Street vendors have become an important part of the economic activity in South Africa. Numbers in the informal trade are increasing, this due to the rise in unemployment and the negative impact of the economic recession. According to the UN-INSTRAW/SAIIA study, the informal economy is a significant source of employment for women migrants, who are most likely to work as vendors, street traders, or hawkers. A 2006 survey that monitored over 85,000 traders passing through 20 border posts connecting ten countries in the SADC region revealed that 70% of all traders at the main border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe were women. The informal economy generally provides low incomes, which has a negative impact on integration in the destination country and the ability to send remittances.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus finds it had to understand why conventional banks lend trillion of dollars to rich people and refuse to lend atleast a $100 to a poor woman.
Submitted by Eva.Ramokobala on Thu, 14/05/2009 - 10:35
Publisher:
Financing For Development
Publisher / Organization Main page URL:
http://ffdngo.org/
Abstract:
The WWG on FfD is an alliance of women's organizations and networks that advocates for the advancement of gender equality, women's empowerment and human rights in UN processes related to FfD and the global financial and economic crises.
Submitted by Eva.Ramokobala on Thu, 14/05/2009 - 10:10
Publisher:
IPS News
Publisher / Organization Main page URL:
http://www.ipsnews.net/
Author:
Kudzai Makombe
Published Date:
2009
Abstract:
The global financial crisis is on everyone's lips. With first hand reports of job losses, house foreclosures and citizens living on credit card debt, the impact of the crisis on the individual worker in the developed world is clear. In Africa, there have been threats of closures and retrenchments in the Zambian copper mines and Botswana's diamond mines, amongst others. But the impact on the individual citizen and African women in particular, given the existing gender inequalities, has not been well documented.
The United Kingdom (UK) government has published its proposals for new equality legislation however a law expert warns that the 'u-turn' could result in an "deluge of equal pay claims".
An international coalition of over 300 women's organisations and human rights groups, representing more than 50 countries, is lending its support to a proposal aimed at creating a strong new women's body at the United Nations.
Submitted by Eva.Ramokobala on Fri, 06/03/2009 - 09:50
Publisher:
IPS
Publisher / Organization Main page URL:
http://www.ipsnews.net/
Author:
Thalif Deen
Published Date:
2009
Abstract:
The spreading global financial crisis - which has taken a heavy toll of international bankers, investors and speculators - is also having a devastating impact on some of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society, including women and children.
